My Missing Puzzle Piece (Creekside Falls #1) (30 page)

Elle was staggered that everything he said was exactly how she would’ve written it out for him to say had she been the script writer and this a scene playing out on a stage. He said it all with such conviction she couldn’t hold back the tears of joy and relief but she knew her expression was blank by the way Trevor was scanning her face, desperate to know what she was thinking. She knew she wanted to keep this man in her life, he was everything she wanted, but she had numbed herself to the roller coaster ride that had been their last two weeks and it was all still just sinking in. Even though everything in her kept screaming, “don’t let him go!”... “he means it and he loves you!”... That little voice of doubt in the back of her head was still whispering, so she had to ask.

“Really?” Elle asked sounding as if she was unsure of everything.

“Really? What?” Trevor asked confused.

“Really you’re okay with everything and you don’t want us to be done?” Elle said as the tears flowing down her face began to slow.

“Hell yeah! I want this to be in the past and forgotten. Will you give us another chance? This time I promise it won’t end.” Trevor said it with sincerity but his tone suggested he was nervous and worried.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“I plan on keeping my promises.” Trevor said with eyes that screamed of his earnestness.

Elle took in a deep breath and sat silent, absorbing all Trevor had just said. She really wanted them to try again and this time for it to work. She took in another deep breath and said, “It’s not even a question for me. I want us to be together. But I have to know that you are absolutely sure.”

“Thank God! Baby I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

“I love you, you know that.” And Elle truly meant it.

“I love you too and nothing will ever change that.” Trevor said as he walked over and pulled her up and kissed her.

“So we’re really doing this thing, for real this time?” Elle said with a megawatt smile as she pulled back from kissing Trevor.

“It felt pretty damn real to me before.” Trevor said as he smiled at her. “Want to go grab some dinner at Mister’s?” Trevor asked Elle hoping she’d say yes.

Mister’s was a local bar and grill not far from either of their places, but this was Creekside so nothing was really
far
unless it was in another town or in the city.

“That sounds good. Just let me change into something else real quick.” Elle said turning to go towards the stairs.

After Elle put on some makeup and changed her clothes she went to the bathroom and began sobbing for relief, for happiness, for all the hope she had begun to let herself feel again for a future with this man she could already envision. With a last wipe of her tears she turned and ran back downstairs to Trevor and to her future.

“You ready?”

Trevor smiled, took her hand and said, “For anything.”

“I love you, I hope you know that” Trevor said as he bent down to kiss her.

“I love you too.” Elle said smiling.

“Should we go makeup again?” Trevor said with a megawatt smile of his own and a wink.

“After dinner we definitely will, our make-up sex can’t be matched. We’re so good at it.” Elle said as she laughed deeply and pulled Trevor out the door.

Hearing Elle laugh would never get old. “It’s going to be a quick dinner just so you know; I’m in a rush to come back.”

Seven months later-Middle of December

t was the day of Trevor’s graduation and he was getting ready for the ceremony when Elle walked into their bedroom looking absolutely stunning in her black dress. He had moved into Elle’s house five months ago, they were always together and Bruiser loved the bigger yard. Jake moved into Trevor’s condo since the lease on Jake’s apartment was almost up and Trevor was considering just selling it to him. His parents, his brothers, Tom and Grady, his sister, Bailey, and of course Elle all came to the ceremony. Elle was right, having people there was something he did want and he was glad they all were able to make it. Elle got along with his family so well but it didn’t surprise him, she was so loveable. He couldn’t wait until him, Elle, Taylor and Jake went to the Poconos to snowboard over New Year’s so he could propose and officially make her part of his family.

Everything at work was going remarkably well, his clients who had become regulars in the spring and summer were now having him come and do snow removal for their business’s and homes. Clients who never used his company before were having him do their snow removal as well. Winter had never been a busy time of year, but now it was taking off. He already had plenty of jobs booked for the spring and summer and it wasn’t
even the New Year. They were even getting new clients from surrounding towns -- his people were traveling farther than ever. He had to promote some employees to route managers because he was going to need more teams, he was hiring more people, with Elle’s help of course, the only thing missing was having Jake come on as partner.

Elle watched as Trevor put on his tie and dress shoes, completely in awe of him and how far they had come. She was so proud of Trevor she was near bursting. She was so happy he agreed to have his family come too. His mom cried when he told his family about school and his upcoming graduation. Elle loved Trevor’s family so much. She couldn’t be happier than she was right now; things were going great with them. Bruiser loved having a bigger yard and having Elle around all the time. Trevor said that when she would leave Bruiser would mope the whole time she was gone, because she left without him Trevor started calling him a traitor. She loved Bruiser; he even kept her company when she ran on the treadmill in the basement so she wouldn’t be alone. The past few weeks he had become her shadow, he must have known something was up -- he was being so protective.

“Ready to go?” Elle said as she walked up to Trevor’s side.

“I guess so.” Trevor said hesitantly.

“It’s going to be fine. You got this. I’m so proud of you.” Elle said as she turned and hugged him.

“Thanks, I needed that. Can you tell me about a hundred more times?” Trevor said smiling as he hugged her tighter.

“Absolutely!” Elle said as she got onto her tippy toes and kissed him.

“Don’t trip.” She added playfully with a wink.

“Not funny.” Was all Trevor said as Elle leaned up to kiss and hug him again.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” Trevor said as he pulled Elle in for another kiss.

The ceremony was great and everything went well. Trevor was happy he decided to walk; he heard his family yelling for him when his name was called. But he heard Elle above everyone, it made his heart swell so big against his ribs when he thought about what Elle had promised, because when they called his name and he went up on stage to get his degree she did indeed scream the loudest.

Afterwards they went out to dinner at a swanky new restaurant, called Florals, not far from the college, he had Jake and Taylor meet them there. He was happy to see his friend and Taylor trying to give it a shot. It also made him happy to see how their being close made Elle feel. Trevor and Elle weren’t sure what was going on with Taylor and Jake and they were still swearing they were just friends, but they had been spending a lot of time together. They seemed crazy about with each other and as far as he knew neither had gone out with anyone else since they met. He knew Elle was dying for them to get together but didn’t want to push, so she was staying out of it and hoping they would figure it out eventually.

When they were waiting for their table, Elle and Taylor were together talking while Trevor, Jake and
Trevor’s family all were talking about the ceremony. Elle knew Taylor felt uncomfortable being there because things were pretty much the same between her and Jake as they had been months ago. But Elle wanted her there and apparently so did Trevor, he thought of her as a good friend now too. Taylor didn’t know where the relationship was going, if anywhere, she told Elle all that had changed was that now they were spending more time together. Elle couldn’t help but think they’d be good together but knew it wasn’t her place to work their relationship, so she didn’t push.

“You okay?” Elle asked turning to Taylor.

“Yeah sure,” Taylor said but Elle wasn’t convinced at all.

“Thanks for coming.”

“For you anything and I guess for Trevor too,” Taylor said playfully. “How was the ceremony?”

“It was really nice and he didn’t even trip.” Elle said with a laugh.

“I’m glad it went well…trip?” Taylor asked almost confused.

“No clue why but for weeks he’s been harping about how he was going to trip at some point and everyone would see, including me and his family and it would be my fault since I made such a big deal about inviting everyone to the ceremony.” Elle laughed after she finished explaining.

“Well I guess everyone’s nerves go somewhere but tripping would never have occurred to me. Glad he stayed on his feet.” Taylor said sarcastically as she laughed.

Taylor looked at her watch and said, “Is the table almost ready? I don’t want to stay too long.”

“I think they’re cleaning it and I know you don’t but please don’t rush out.”

“I won’t but I can’t stick around too long either, being around Jake sometimes reminds me how much he only sees me as a friend, when that isn’t how I see him and it just sucks but…whatever.”

Changing the subject Taylor said, “Trevor’s brothers look exactly like him, it’s almost crazy!” as she studied them.

“I know and his sister looks nothing like them. She jokes around how she’s not just the only girl but the black sheep too. But his family really is amazing.”

“She really doesn’t. Wonder what it was like for her growing up with three brothers? They seem to be great guys, I get why you like them so much.” Taylor envied Elle the slightest bit that she had found her guy and that his family was awesome too.

“From what she’s told me, not easy at all. They either scared off her boyfriends or followed them around. And her friends wanted to always be at her house because they had crushes on one or all of her brothers. I think I’m lucky I only had one brother.” Elle said with a laugh.

“That might even make me glad I just have V.” Taylor added with a laugh of her own. Jake looked at her with a longing look deep in his eyes.

The dinner went incredibly well and Trevor’s family even loved Taylor too. Trevor’s brothers told Jake if he didn’t go for Taylor then they would. Elle laughed when Jake practically growled and his jaw tightened, while poor Taylor just turned red and sank into her seat. When Trevor’s family left after dessert, it was just Elle, Trevor, Jake and Taylor.

The waitress brought Trevor and Jake another beer and Taylor another glass of wine. When she walked away Trevor said, “Well that went well.” he put his arm around Elle to bring her closer to him and kiss her on the temple.

“It really did.” Elle said.

“I’m happy for you man.” Jake added in.

“Congratulations Trevor, you deserve to celebrate you worked hard for it.” Taylor said. She lifted her glass of wine as a sign she wanted to cheers with the others. “What are we toasting to?” Elle asked.

“Umm…How about to…new beginnings?” Taylor said hesitantly.

“Works for me!” Elle chimed in.

They all lifted their glasses in a toast.

“Cheers!” they all said in unison.

“You sure you don’t want anything else to drink, something to celebrate with?” Trevor asked Elle gesturing to her glass of water.

“No this is fine. I have a little bit of a headache and figured it would be better if I only drank water.”

“Okay. Do you want to go?”

“No, I’m fine right now. Let’s stay and enjoy it.” She said with a smile.

“You sure? You didn’t really even eat your dinner.” Trevor said sounding more concerned.

“I’m good, promise. You know me; sometimes headaches make my stomach weird too.”

“Okay, if you’re sure. But we can leave any time you’re ready.” Trevor said as he pulled her in closer.

They sat and talked with their friends for a while longer before Taylor said, “I think I may get going. Do you guys mind?”

“No it’s fine we should probably get going too.” Elle said as she waved to the waitress for the bill.